Discover Schalkwijk: Holiday Apartments, Forts and Waterways

Schalkwijk is one of the villages on the Eiland van Schalkwijk, surrounded by the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal, the Lek and the Lekkanaal. Its landscape combines water, pastureland and a layered history of defence. The Gedekte Gemeenschapsweg with its inundation canal extends as a linear defence structure from the Lek near Fort Honswijk to the Schalkwijksche Wetering.

Forts and Defence History

Fort Honswijk is a prominent landmark of the New Dutch Waterline. Its tower was built between 1841 and 1848 and is the oldest and largest tower along this line. Lunet aan de Snel, a defensive work dating from 1845 to 1846, lies 300 metres to the north. Werk aan de Groeneweg has also retained its original form as an infantry position from the First World War, including a double trench, earthworks and 55 group shelters. A family treasure hunt and adventure route runs through this position, allowing you to discover the history of the Waterline.

The Tuin van Jonkheer Ram was reconstructed in 2008 on the site of a former Ridderhofstad dating from around 1635 and laid out with historically responsible planting. The residential tower Toren Vuylcop is also known as Vuylcoop. The tower dates from the 14th century and was probably built around 1300; it is surrounded by a moat. Museum Dijkmagazijn De Heul presents the more than 2,000-year history of the Eiland van Schalkwijk. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month, except December.

Trails through Pastureland and the Countryside

The Lint- en Liniepad runs through the pastureland and countryside around Schalkwijk, passing forts and crossing the floodplains of the Lek. A shorter, child-friendly option is the 7-kilometre Onderwaterpad KIDS, part of the Lint en Liniepad; along the way, there are educational activities and dedicated waymarking. The Vuylcoppad is an 8-kilometre circular walking route that starts at TOP Eiland van Schalkwijk and passes through the countryside, by forts and along Het Verdronken Bos. For cycling tours, Langs Lek en Linie explores part of the New Dutch Waterline around Schalkwijk, Nieuwegein, Houten and Bunnik.

Watery Landscapes and Special Sights

The Inundatieveld Blokhoven on the Achterdijk in Schalkwijk is a water storage area with a capacity of 23,000 m³. In summer, it is flooded twice a month so that visitors can experience the principle of inundation used by the Waterline. The site includes walking paths, benches, a cable ferry, an 80-metre-long jetty and canoe docks. Het Verdronken Bos was also redeveloped as a water storage area; as a result, dead tree trunks are visible above the waterline. A jetty runs through the area and allows visitors to observe waterbirds such as the great egret at close range.

Access Points and Connections

TOP Eiland van Schalkwijk offers numerous parking spaces for cars and bicycles, charging stations for electric bicycles and electric cars, and information about walking, cycling and boating excursions. From May through September, the Liniepont operates on the Lek as a bicycle and passenger ferry, connecting Werk aan het Spoel, Fort Everdingen and Werk aan de Groeneweg. Bus route 45 runs from Houten railway station to the Wickenburgselaan stop. The Marian Chapel of the R.K. Kerk van de Heilige Michael is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum Dijkmagazijn De Heul is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month, except December.

Other destinations nearby: Houten, 'T Goy

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Houten.